With the addition of forward Blake Griffin, the Clippers are producing more highlights than the Lakers, and they're winning games. RONALD MARTINEZ, GETTY IMAGES

LOS ANGELES – It was bound to happen eventually, especially now that, based on recent discussion, the Lakers officially have aged faster than guacamole.

But it couldn't have happened this quickly, could it?

Entering Tuesday, I was among the people pondering a question that, just three months ago, would have been as absurd as wondering why Staples Center doesn't also feature a statue of Eric Piatkowski?

Specifically:

Is it possible that the Lakers, the two-time defending champs, the ones who dress in the colors of kings, employers of scoring Kobe Bryant and never-boring Ron Artest are only the second most entertaining NBA team in town?

Black Mamba to Gray Grandpa?

Yes, the Clippers have climbed that rapidly, matching the speed with which Blake Griffin's dunks have turned into Internet gold.

Relative to the Clippers, the Lakers aren't just old school, they're hardened-artery school.

Hey, don't blame me for making this an issue. None other than Jerry West turned Laker Nation into Century Village with his comments last week about the players' advancing ages.

The young Clippers today have a buzz about them. In the past, the only way a person could enjoy the Clippers was to have a buzz about themselves.

Before the Lakers played the Jazz at Staples Center, even the television in their locker room was tuned to the Clippers' game against the Mavericks, a game the Clippers were leading at the time, 40-25.

How concerned were the Lakers about their kid neighbor's latest success? The only player in the room was Lamar Odom. He had his back to the TV and was more interested in putting on his socks.

Now, before I get deeper into this, one thing should be remembered: We're still talking about the Clippers here! The stinking Clippers, a franchise that really knows how to grow old fast!

So, before the game in Dallas, the team had announced that star guard Eric Gordon would miss at least three more weeks because of a wrist injury. Then Griffin was hurt in the second half. Then they lost the game to the Mavs, 112-105.

The boring, ancient Lakers, in the meantime, were opening a four-touchdown lead in the second quarter.

Perhaps these guys aren't as near death as some reports suggested.

Still, there's no denying which of these franchises is producing the most highlights these days.

On Saturday, Griffin took a fast-break lob from Eric Bledsoe and, twisting in mid-air, dunked behind his head. He did this not at the end of blowout, but early in the second quarter of a game that would be decided in the final seconds. And, it's notable, a game won by the Clippers.

Even before the end of the third quarter, Griffin's dunk was being shown on ESPN as one of the top 10 plays of the day. And you know how ESPN operates. They only replayed the thing 250 times before Griffin had emerged from his postgame shower.

During Bryant's 15 Lakers years, the Clippers never have had a player who could challenge him in terms of attracting eyes. They have one today, and this statement comes after Griffin has played only 44 NBA games.

But now, of course, his elbow is swollen, the Clippers still lost to the Mavericks and the Lakers were leading the Jazz by 33 as Lamar Odom was making a shot from behind the backboard and without looking.

According to those who count such things, Griffin entered Tuesday second in the NBA with 99 dunks (one behind Dwight Howard) and fellow Clipper DeAndre Jordan was fifth with 80.

Finding a Laker required going all the way down to No. 29. And that Laker was ... Pau Gasol? Gasol can be described using many terms but "high-flying" is not one of them. His dunks are worth two points but generally not second looks.

And, again just for the record, Gordon had 30 slams compared to only 21 for Bryant, the geezer has-been who's so worn down that when he actually practices it becomes national news.

The last time the Clippers warranted any genuine attention was during the 2006 playoffs, when they advanced farther than the Lakers.

The most interesting thing about that team was whatever spilled from Sam Cassell's mouth. Elton Brand was the best Clipper then. Nice guy. Largely uninteresting, though, on and off the court.

Things certainly have changed around here now. The Clippers are making plays and news and highlights. The Lakers, based on a growing sentiment, are making memories they won't even be capable of remembering soon.

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